Key Takeaways:
- Stephenson drives a Hyundai Sonata, a car that isn’t known for being a gas guzzler.
- Switching to summer tyres as soon as the weather permits, according to Olmstead, is also a good idea because it reduces drag on the road.
Josh Stephenson operates a private taxi service in Saint John.
He, like everyone else who has to drive for work, is feeling the pinch of the ever-increasing gas prices.
“Every day, I go out and make my fares, and then I fill up my car,” he says.
“It’s a lot more expensive to fill up my tank.”
Stephenson drives a Hyundai Sonata, which does not have a bad reputation for being a gas guzzler.
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He claims that filling it recently has cost him around $100 and that he has to do so almost daily. He is employed by Vet’s Taxi in the city and is responsible for the cost.
He claims that gas alone accounts for about a third of his earnings.
“I simply make less,” Stephenson explains.
From delivery drivers to home care workers who travel from house to house, this is the story for most workers who rely on driving.
At the end of the day, record-high gas prices eat into profit.
“Even though fuel prices are insane, the delivery companies aren’t paying us more base pay,” says Jolyne LeBlanc, who works for SkipTheDishes and DoorDash in Moncton.
“All we can do is try to fuel at stations that offer a discount or points when paying cash.” That is, at least, what I do.”
LeBlanc believes that she and other freelance delivery drivers should be more selective about the orders they accept, ensuring that the tip or fare is sufficient to cover the cost of fuel.
She explains, “After all, we aren’t a charity.”
Experts states there are still ways to save money on gas, including keeping up with vehicle maintenance, adhering to speed limits, and avoiding idling.
“You basically use a liter of fuel every 20 minutes you idle,” says CAA’s Steve Olmstead.
According to Olmstead, switching to summer tyres as soon as the weather permits is also a good idea, as it reduces drag on the road.
One obvious way to save money at the pump is to reduce your reliance on gasoline altogether.
“You might want to place some money down and buy a hybrid,” Stephenson jokes.
However, he is not joking.
In fact, after crunching the numbers as well as for deciding it was best for business, he just ordered one himself and will be collecting cab fare in a hybrid in six months.
Source: Global News
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